My Japanese Snowbell Trees
Lovely, fragrant, and showy, the Japanese snowbell tree, Styrax japonicus, is a beautiful small tree that thrives in full sun or part shade.
In 2016, I planted an allée of Styrax japonicus 'Marley's Pink Parasol' along the carriage road leading to my tennis court. These trees feature bold green foliage and in spring, lustrous pink, bell-shaped, fragrant flowers. A couple years later, I planted a collection of Styrax japonicus 'Evening Light' in the same allée. These are purple trees with white, sweet smelling blooms. Both varieties are developing so beautifully here at the farm.
Here are some photos.
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- The carriage road to my tennis court is planted on both sides with Styrax japonicus trees, or Japanese Snowbells.
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- The Japanese Snowbell is a broad-crowned deciduous tree from the woodlands of China and Japan.
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- Here is a photo of the carriage road to my tennis court taken eight years ago. It looked quite bare then and in need of a pretty allée.
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- This photo is from April 2016. I planted 44 ‘Marley’s Pink Parasol’ Japanese Snowbell trees along both sides of the road. I knew in time they would mature excellently in this location.
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- In spring of 2018, I planted Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’. I wanted the new row of trees to be planted slightly behind the existing row and spaced evenly between them, so they alternated in color.
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- In June of 2021, the trees are healthy and established.
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- And look at these Japanese Snowbell trees now – so lush. And the green and dark purple foliage contrast so nicely.
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- Styrax japonicus ‘Marley’s Pink Parasol’ is a dainty, weeping dwarf variety that grows eight to 10 feet tall and four to five feet wide at maturity.
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- This tree has green deciduous, large glossy pointed leaves in summer that transform to a bright and cheery lemon yellow in fall.
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- A few weeks ago, it was filled with gorgeous pale pink bell-shaped sweet-smelling flowers.
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- The profuse blooms hang off the weeping branches…
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- … and smell like cotton candy.
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- On both trees, each of the small, long-stalked flowers has five petals and prominent yellow stamens.
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- Also in bloom were the Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ trees.
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- Its mildly scented flowers are white with brownish stems.
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- These drooping flower clusters are most showy in May to June.
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- The flowers stand out against the dark, almost maroon colored foliage.
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- Look closely and see the drupes, or seed pods, hanging from the branches.
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- And the bark is smooth and has orange-brown interlacing fissures that are more noticeable as it matures.
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- The tree has an upright, oval habit and grows to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide – different from the weeping variety below.
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- I am so pleased with how well these trees are doing. If you’re looking to plant any trees this year, consider a unique and elegant Japanese Snowbell.
Martha Pins
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